Counter



L. W. HILLS May 8, 1928.

COUNTER Filed April 19 1927 INVEN T09 Wa Zh fig, ATTORNEYJ Emman- O error,

which is 'ada pear fromthe either by gravity oscillation of the lever a casing 14 or other suitable Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESLIE w. Ems, or m gnalvcrsco, camronma.

COUNTER.

Application filed April 19, 1927. Serial No. 184,858.

This invention relates generally to devices for keeping count of articles moved along a runway or conveyor. In the past, difficulty has been experienced in securing counters which would function accurately under all conditions of operation. The most common device has been the well known star wheel arrangement which is mounted so as to. extend into the path of movement of the articles to be counted. As a star wheel always rotates in one direction, its inertia may be sufficient to operate the counter more than onenumber when struck with suflicient force by an article.

It is an object of this invention to construct a device for use with a runway or conveyor which will count articles without irrespective of operating conditions.

It is a further object of this-invention to incorporate ina counter an escapement lever ted to be oscillated by articles progressing a ong a runway or conveyor. Further-objects of this invention will apfollowing description in which I have set forth the preferred embodimentof my invention. .It is to be understood that the invention is to be accorded a range of mechanical equivalents consistent with the state of the prior art.

Referring to the drawings:

igure 1 is a side elevational view in cross section showing principles of this invention.

ig. 2 is a cross sectional the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The invention comprises generally an escapement lever which is mounted in opera tive relationship adjacent a runway or conb veyor and which is adapted to be oscillated along the same. This counting mechanism so that every complete is registered. While it isobvious that the device may be employed for counting a variety of articles, it as been shown in the drawing as being especially adapted for the purpose of counting cans or other cylindrical objects. Thus I have illustrated a suitable runway 10 along which the cans 11 are adapted. to progress, or by the use of suitable such as: a belt 12. Upon the runway there. is secured mounting for the operative parts of the counter.

The escapement lever preferably comconveying means the outer side of a device incorporating the View taken along prises a pair of fingers 16 and 17 which extend into the path of movement of thear-' ticles and which are pivotally mounted as by means of a pivot pin 18. In the particular arrangement shown the articles are adapted to progress from right to leftso that finger 17 is first engaged and then the finger 16. Finger 17 is accordingly provided with a downwardly inclined end portion 19 which when engaged by a can will be forced downwardly to bring the finger 16 into engaging position. Finger 16 is likewise provided with a curved end portion 20 i across the slot 21 and may be formed integral with the cover plate 22.

For registering the oscillations of the escapement lever there has been shown a conventional form of numerical counter 25,

of the plate 22. The particular form of counter shown is actuated by means of an oscillating arm 27 which is pivotally connected to. one end of a rod 28. The other end of rod 28 is pivotally connected to an arm 29 which is fixed with respect to the escapement lever.

In operation, as a can progresses along the runway 10 it first engages the portion 19 and depresses the finger 17. Finger 16 is therey raised into the path of movement of the can and as the can moves forwardly it engages finger 16 dotted line position shown in Fig. "1, thereby rocking the arm 27 of the counter and registering a number. The fingers 16 and 17 are made sufiiciently short so that if two cans or objects proceed down the runway in contact with each other the finger 17 may extend upwardly between the cans while the finger 16. is being depressed, so that finger 17 will operate to arrest movementof the next succeeding can. In'some instances it is preferany suitable means such and depresses the same to the 1 accomplished by mounted for example upon an extension 26 able to bias or resiliently urge the escapement lever to the position shown in full lines in'Fig. 1. This may be to prevent the cans from passing over the escapement lever without oscillating the same, the belt 12 may be provided with spring pressed rollers 31 to resiliently press the belt down upon the cans.

In addition to being simple in construction and easy to manufacture the counter of this invention has been found to be positive and accurate when in use. The speed with which the objects pass the counter will not affect its operation as the movement of the escapement lever is oscillatory rather than rotary. The stop members 23 absorb the due to arresting movement of the impact thus protecting the counting moving parts, mechanism.

1 claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a runway along which articles are adapted to move, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said runway, said lever having a pair of fingers formed upon the same extending into the path of movement of the articles and adapted to be successively engaged by the same, and a counter adapted to be actuated by said lever.

2. A device of the class described comprising a runway along which articles are adapted tomove, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said runway along an axis normal to the direction of movement-of the articles, said lever having a pairof fingers formed upon the's'ame and extending into the path of movement of the articles whereb each article successively engages said ngers and thereby oscillates the lever, and a counter adapted to be actuated by said lever.

3. A device of the class described comprising a runway along which articles are adapted to move, a plate forming a portion of said runway, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said plate, fingers carried by the lever and extending through the plate, means secured to the plate for limiting movement of the fingers, and a counter adapted to be actuated by the lever.

4. In a device of the class described, a runway along which articles are adapted to move, an escapement lever pivotally mounted adjacent said runway, said lever comprising a pair of fingers adapted to be successively engaged by an object to oscillate the same, the finger first engaged having :1. depending end portion, and a counting mechanism actuated by said lever.

5. In a device of the class described, a runway along which articles are adapted to move, an escapement lever pivotally mounted adjacent said runway, said lever comprising a pair of fingers adapted to be successive-ly'engaged by an object to oscillate the same, a counting mechanism actuated by said lever, and means to resiliently urge said le ver in a position in which the second of said fingers engaged by an article is projected into the path of movement of the articles.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand.

y LEsLIEw. HILLS. 

